Your First Visit
Your referring physician office will arrange an appointment for you at LAROC. Upon arrival an administrative staff will assist with registration followed by an oncology nurse assessment. The radiation oncologist will then meet with you for an exam and discussion of potential radiation treatment. Your visit may take about 1 1/2 hour.
Planning and Starting Treatment
The treatment process is somewhat complex. It includes simulation, preparation of customized treatment devices, calculation of individual dose distribution, and sometimes CAT scans (CT's) often taking up to a week before the first treatment begins. The radiation oncologist, nurse or radiation therapist will explain each step in the process and answer any questions you may have.
Each radiation treatment itself is painless and lasts only a few minutes. However, a patient's course of treatment may last from two to seven weeks. You will generally receive radiation therapy at the same time every day, Monday through Friday.